Born in Afghanistan, Jem Cohen is an American experimental filmmaker and photographer, especially known for his observational portraits of urban landscapes, blending of media formats, and collaborations with musicians.
Cohen has worked extensively with musicians including Patti Smith, Fugazi, Terry Riley, R.E.M., Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Xylouris White, DJ Rupture, the Ex, Elliott Smith, Vic Chesnutt, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Matana Roberts, Jessica Moss, Jonathan Richman, T.Griffin/Catherine McRae, White Magic, and the Orpheus Orchestra with Gil Shaham, and has collaborated with writers Luc Sante and Sam Stephenson, and graphic artist Ben Katchor.
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Director |
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Director of Photography |
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Editor |
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Producer |
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Sound |
| 2024 | Little, Big, and Far - Writer |
| 2024 | Aerie - Director |
| 2024 | June Leaf - Director |
| 2024 | Robert and June (Cape Breton and NYC) - Director |
| 2022 | Ballad of Philip Guston - Director |
| 2022 | Or Nothing (The Double) - Director |
| 2020 | Opened Ending - Director |
| 2019 | Tree Song - Director |
| 2019 | Makeshift (for Mekas) - Cinematography |
| 2019 | Makeshift (for Mekas) - Director |
| 2019 | Makeshift (for Mekas) - Editor |
| 2018 | Vox Populi - Director |
| 2018 | MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful) - Director |
| 2018 | MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful) - Director of Photography |
| 2018 | MARC RIBOT FEAT. TOM WAITS – Bella Ciao (Goodbye Beautiful) - Editor |
| 2018 | NYC Weights and Measures - Director |
| 2018 | This Climate - Director |
| 2017 | Birth of a Nation - Director |
| 2016 | World Without End (No Reported Incidents) - Director |
| 2016 | Bury Me Not - Director |
| 2016 | On Essex Road - Director |
| 2016 | Peter Hutton - Director |
| 2015 | Counting - Cinematography |
| 2015 | Counting - Director |
| 2015 | Counting - Editor |
| 2015 | Counting - Producer |
| 2015 | Counting - Sound Designer |
| 2015 | We Have an Anchor - Director |
| 2014 | The Film That Buys the Cinema - Director |
| 2013 | Helianthus Corner Blues - Director |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Director |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Director of Photography |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Editor |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Producer |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Screenplay |
| 2012 | Ziyaret Saatleri - Sound Designer |
| 2012 | 20 Little Films - Director |
| 2011 | Gravity Hill Newsreels: Occupy Wall Street - Director |
| 2010 | Anne Truitt, Working - Director |
| 2010 | Crossing Paths with Luce Vigo - Director |
| 2010 | Roscoe Holcomb from Daisy, Kentucky - Director |
| 2009 | Chinatown Film Project - Director |
| 2009 | Long for the City (Patti Smith in New York) - Director |
| 2009 | Le bled (Buildings in a Field) - Director |
| 2009 | Night Scene New York - Director |
| 2008 | The Passage Clock: For Walter Benjamin - Director |
| 2008 | Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin - Cinematography |
| 2008 | Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin - Director |
| 2008 | Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin - Editor |
| 2008 | Evening's Civil Twilight in Empires of Tin - Producer |
| 2008 | Half The Battle - Director |
| 2007 | A Tale of Two Cities - Director |
| 2007 | free - Director |
| 2007 | Spirit (Smells Like Teen Spirit) - Director |
| 2006 | Blessed Are the Dreams of Men - Director |
| 2006 | Building a Broken Mousetrap - Director |
| 2004 | Chain - Director |
| 2004 | Chain - Director of Photography |
| 2004 | Chain - Editor |
| 2004 | Chain - Producer |
| 2004 | Chain - Writer |
| 2003 | R.E.M.: In View 1988-2003 (The Best of R.E.M.) - Director |
| 2002 | The Foxx and Little Vic - Director |
| 2001 | Nice Evening, Transmission Down - Director |
| 2001 | Sonic Cinema: Sparklehorse - Director |
| 2000 | Benjamin Smoke - Director |
| 2000 | Little Flags - Director |
| 1999 | Instrument - Director |
| 1999 | Instrument - Director of Photography |
| 1999 | Instrument - Editor |
| 1999 | Amber City - Director |
| 1999 | Blood Orange Sky - Director |
| 1997 | Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait - Camera Operator |
| 1997 | Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait - Director |
| 1997 | Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait - Editor |
| 1997 | Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait - Producer |
| 1997 | Museum - Director |
| 1996 | Lost Book Found - Director |
| 1995 | Nightswimming - Director |
| 1994 | Buried in Light - Director |
| 1992 | Black Hole Radio - Director |
| 1992 | Black Hole Radio - Editor |
| 1992 | Black Hole Radio - Sound Editor |
| 1991 | R.E.M. - This Film Is On - Director |
| 1991 | Drink Deep - Director |
| 1991 | Sketches for Late City Final - Director |
| 1989 | Just Hold Still - Director |
| 1989 | 4:44 (from her house home) - Director |
| 1989 | Glueman - Director |
| 1989 | Light Years - Director |
| 1987 | Matewan - Assistant Property Master |
| 1987 | This Is a History of New York - Director |
| 1986 | At Close Range - Assistant Property Master |
| Gravity Hill Newsreels-Bella ciao - Director |
Duvar